Technology Demonstrator Program for Space Station Environmental Control Life Support System

With the advent of a long-life U.S. Space Station, the development of a regenerative Environmental Control and Life Support Systems (ECLSS) becomes essential in order avoid the severe logistics penalty associated with an expendable ECLSS. Currently, NASA/Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) and their prime contractors are evaluating competing regenerative ECLSS technologies using the Technology Demonstrator (Tech Demo) Program.

The Tech Demo Program consists of two phases: (1) comparative test, and (2) 90-day manned systems test. The data derived from this test program, in conjunction with analytical assessments and other test data, will determine the prime technologies to pursue for the Space Station ECLSS. This paper details the Tech Demo program including the overall objectives, hardware requirements and major milestones as currently conceived by the MSFC.